Archive for December, 2009

I haven’t had the chance to put together any cosmetics-related videos using the Flip just yet, but I took a few seconds last night to play around with my new toy (one of my fab Christmas gifts) so you get a quick video of Chloe, our unofficial blog mascot!

Hey everyone! So I’m back from my little holiday hiatus (which really wasn’t much of a hiatus – I just couldn’t find the time to blog as work has been a madhouse) with some amazing new products and fun new ABS developments (including a big giveaway) coming your way very soon.

The lovely Nicole sent me the most amazing Christmas package and of course I had to share! She included:

and a bunch of fun Hello Kitty goodies that really brighten up my office space

My other big Christmas gift came from the SO in the form of a Flip, which will finally enable me to post some (hopefully) great quality videos up on the ABS YouTube channel.

More photos (and details on my cute Flip skin) after the jump!I’ve been lusting after the OPI Designer Series polishes since receiving DS Fantasy (photos here) and know that Reserve is going to be just as drool-worthy.

Chanel’s Rouge Allure Laques have a wonderfully creamy formula and are amazingly long-wearing – I loved Ming (photo here) and Dragon is one of the most stunning reds I’ve ever seen and pretty much universally flattering. My dear friend Cathy gave it a shot last night and it looked stunning on her.

I love Amore’s Treatment Enzyme Peel and I now have this Clarifying Masque which leaves my face looking toned, smooth and radiant. And it doesn’t hurt that it smells delicious to boot.

Cle de Peau’s concealer has long been hailed as the holy grail of concealers, and thanks to Nicole’s generosity I finally have it in my hands. It’s painfully small for something that’s so painfully expensive, but I’ve been playing with it for the past few days and it’s definitely living up to the hype thus far.

And now for the Flip! 🙂 I’ve been wanting one for the longest time so that I could post some HD videos for you on YouTube (I’ve been thinking of doing videos of my favorite pink lipsticks, product reviews, demonstrations, swatches, etc.) and the SO was kind enough to oblige. I ordered myself a skin from DecalGirl and now I’m good to go!

How have the holidays been treating you? Share with me in the comments!

Say hello to the foundation makeup lovers have been touting as the drugstore alternative to Make Up For Ever’s nearly universally loved (other than by me – really don’t like the stuff) HD foundation. Revlon’s PhotoReady Foundation (with a nice SPF 20) isn’t slated to be released until March 2010, but it’s been popping up at various drugstores nationwide (I got mine at Duane Reade just now, but people have been finding it at CVS, Rite Aide, etc.).

Some proclaim its potential holy grail status, others complain of the Cullen-esque look they give them (too much sparkle), some raves it eliminates pores and lasts for 15 hours, others gripe that it emphasizes dry patches and imperfections and really isn’t all that – so of course I had to grab a bottle and try it for myself.

Expect a review (hopefully soon) on whether this $13.99 bottle of foundation really lives up to the hype (and there’s a lot of hype), or whether it’s just another dud for me. Oh and FYI I picked this up on shade 004 Nude which I’m praying isn’t waaay too dark on me!

Once banned from US soils, L’Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray’s decades of exile have finally come to an end. Elnett debuted nationwide exclusively at Target in fall 2008, but sales were swift and again Elnett fans despaired and resorted to smuggling the contraband into the country. Well despair no more! The iconic hairspray to the stars is back stateside in all its perfect, touchably soft brushable glory!

Check out the full review after the jump!I was never much of a hairspray user before Elnett, but this slim bottle of golden goodness has really changed my ways. Used by top stylists around the world, Elnett really seems to set the standard for hairspray by delivering long-lasting hold with only a quick spritz along with shine and real touchability (as opposed to all those other hairsprays that promise touchability but cause sticky, nasty helmethead or crunchy hair).

Elnett delivers an ultra-fine mist of product that provides exceptional hold while disappearing at the stroke of brush, meaning you get optimal hold without ever looking like you’ve got product in your hair. This is seriously the only product to control my little flyaway baby hairs (they’ve got a mind of their own) without giving my crunchy, unnatural looking hair. The micro-diffusion technology incorporated into the product allows for even application to set any and all styles, and humidity protection means it’ll really stand up to the elements.

L’Oreal’s Elnett has truly been an amazing product for me, and outperforms other sprays I’ve tried by leaps and bounds. I only have two teeny little gripes, which you know for me is big since I can find something wrong with almost any product LOL. #1 is the smell – oh how I abhor the smell of Elnett, which reminds me of very strong baby powder – not really the ideal choice of scent for my hair. My idea of romance isn’t having my boyfriend lean down to sniff my hair, only to get a nose full of baby powder. The scent does go away after awhile, but get rained on and it’s back with a vengeance! #2 is the spray nozzle – it’s fantastic for releasing a fine mist of product, but it tends to get clogged meaning the spray can go in weird directions, but that’s easily solved by frequent cleaning.

All in all I’d say Elnett is the only hairspray I’ll be purchasing from now on – I’ve even purchased a mini to keep in my purse for those hair emergencies. Definitely check it out!

Availability: L’Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray is available at mass market retailers and drugstores nationwide. The 11 oz. will run you $14.99 and the 2.2 oz $6.99 (and it’s available in various holds including Strong Hold, Extra Strong Hold and Extra Strong Hold UV Filter).

This review contains a press sample sent to ABS by the brand’s PR representative for blog consideration. I tend to get a good amount of hairsprays to try out, but I haven’t really felt any were review-worthy until Elnett – for me this is the end all, be all of hairsprays! If you have any questions regarding the foregoing, please feel free to contact me at a.beautyful.sentiment@gmail.com.

There is currently an honest-to goodness snowstorm raging outside my bedroom window, and having waded through at least a good 5 inches of snow while wearing 4 inch heels (not the smartest idea I know!), I can attest to the fact that it’s pretty darn cold outside! Nights like this make me think of sipping hot cocoa in front of a warm fireplace, and of course, festive holiday makeup.

So how’s your weekend been treating you thus far? I spent 11 hours Christmas shopping – can you believe it?! Of course some of that involved playing with makeup (it’s a hard task but somebody’s gotta do it =P) and I took a quick moment to test out Armani’s new Rouge D’Armani’s, which in a word are FABULOUS! It boasts 8-hour wear time and is just a gorgeous gorgeous formula ~ non-drying, long-wearing, pigmented, creamy, amazingly packaged.

More details after the jump!Vogue editors chose Rouge d’Armani in shade #600 selected as a favorite, while Harper’s Bazaar declared Rouge d’Armani #500 a “must-have” – which is why I’ve ordered it for myself using my Saks Mystery Money. It was all of $20 this year, but that still meant I only had to pay $12 and change for my new lipstick, which I haven’t even swatched. Hopefully I love the shade!

L’Oreal Paris’ new Go 360˚ Clean is an innovative new cleanser collection which comes paired with the Scrublet cleansing tool that goes beyond clean for an extraordinary pore-by-pore daily cleansing experience. Pores look smaller and skin is cleaner, smoother and softer.

More info and photos after the jump!Go 360˚ Clean includes L’Oreal’s Scrublet cleansing tool, a super-soft, flexible cleansing disc that applies the collection’s cleanser with 500 extra-supple touch pints that gently glide across the skin, activating the cleanser formulas on contact to create a high-foaming lather. This rich lather penetrates into the pores, unclogging them and gently removing traces of dirt, oil and makeup in every last pore, crease and crevice.

Go 360˚ Clean offers a complete range of cleanser calibrated for ideal performance with the Scrublet:The Scrublet pops right into and out of the custom-made bottle for convenient storage, and even comes with a suction cup allowing you to stick the Scrublet onto your bathroom mirror or tile. I’ve been using the Deep Facial Cleanser for a few weeks now and my skin is looking pretty fabulous if I do say so myself, and my pores are noticeably tighter looking. Full review to come soon!

Availability: L’Oreal Paris Go 360˚ Clean will be available February 2010 at www.lorealparis.com and chain drug, food and mass market retailers for $6.99.

To me the holidays are the perfect time to indulge in some little glitz and glamor, and judging by the comments left in my Body Shop Giveaway, you all agree. Check out my Etsy picks to see some sparkling one-of-a-kind handmade gift giving options I’m dying to buy for myself.

Laurie Sarah Designs’ Pink Tourmaline Ring ($828.75)What are the holidays without a little drama? This pink tourmaline ring is one of those statement pieces that will have your girlfriends drooling. I must have it!

Bejewelled Bespoke’s The Classic Bib Necklace ($55.00)This classic, versatile bib necklace is ideal for dressing up anything from a plain white T to a little black dress, and the price is pretty great too. I’ve still got my heart set on the Allure in Black one I featured up above, but this is another great options.

I’m a little late with this but things have been a little busy over here at the ABS headquarters (aka my house LOL) – but I know you’ve all been anxious to find out who won the $159 worth of lovely The Body Shop cosmetics goodies!

Our winner is — Amanda! Congratulations and I’ll be in touch shortly for your shipping info so that the wonderfully generous people over at The Body Shop can get your prize out to you!

And for those of you who didn’t win, don’t despair, I’ve got a rather fantastic giveaway coming you way chock full of products I purchased myself, specially for you!

So for the first time ever, YSL Beauty is hosting a friends & family event now through Deceber 20th, 2009. Save 20% off all orders plus get free shipping by using code: FF2009 at checkout! Be sure to visit YSL’s US Beauty Portal to get your shop on – I’m thinking now might be the time to order that Mascara Singulier I’ve been dying to get my hands on.